Learning how to sew has always been on the top of my bucket list. It wasn’t until recently that I knew sewing practice sheets even existed, so let’s just so my home economics projects had a little bit to be desired.
Though home ec wasn’t my strong suit, I have been working for years (little bits at a time) to get better at sewing. Who cares that I can’t sew a straight line? Off and on over the years, I have picked up different sewing projects. Hand sewing projects were always easier for me to do, but they take SO much time! Who’s got time for that, right?
Rather than wally in self pity or take ten years to finish a small throw pillow, I have figured out it was time to dust off the good ole sewing machine and learn how to sew. That’s when sewing practice sheets come in. Did you know that you can sew on paper? Yep, that’s right. These sheets are just designs on paper that you practice sewing the lines.
I have designed a few free printables for you to practice various kinds of sewing lines. Start with the straight lines first and then work your way up to the curves. The more you practice the better you get at it, and using these sheets is a lot less expensive that using fabric.
My eldest daughter really wants to learn how to sew so she can make her own Anime costumes, and she works on these sheets a few times a week. Every time she picks one up she gets a little bit better and better!
You can see I started off a little rough, but by the end I was a sewing rock star! Why am I sharing all this? Well, sewing is a great way to save money. It’s a great hobby, but it can also lead to making practical things you need around the house. It makes the need to buy things, like curtains, obsolete. Why buy them when with a few simple hems you can make your own for a lot less money!
Now it’s time to fess up! Which ones of you are sewing challenged? Well, I challenge you to try out one of these worksheets and share how you did! If I can make it through these sheets, anyone can!
- Square Sewing Sheet
- Heart Sewing Practice Sheet
- Zig Zag Sewing Practice Sheets
- Circle Sewing Sheets
Did you know that sewing practice sheets can help you learn to sew?
If you liked this craft post, make sure to check these out too:
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Michelle says
Ok I am pretty sure these sheet might help me! My mom would sew but would say the sewing machine knows more than enough swear words and did not teach me! I might have the guts to try again with these! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Crunchy Frugalista says
Michelle, I am telling ya if I can do it anyone can. I was never really taught to sew except a crash course in home ec
Sarah @ East9thStreet says
No one told me that sewing involved using an iron and required math skills. I took sewing lessons a few years ago and those were my biggest shocks.
Angela says
This is great. I have not sewn in a long time but have been thinking about pulling out my machine. I will definitely need to do a bit of practice first!
Sadie says
I hate sewing. My mom owned a quilt shop from the time I was born until I was like 15 and that is all I was ever around. I know how, but I hate it. I think these would be fun for my kids to use though!
Wanda L. McLean says
So lets start by saying I flunked Home-Ec in high school. I hated every second of sewing classes. I tried to pick it up later on my Mom’s machine and broke every needle she had and got a gob of thread would in it so bad she had to call a repair lady. My hubby, years later, thought he was doing a good thing by finding a “steal” on a sale of sewing machines that were to be sold to the local schools but they had too many so they sold to the public and he got one real cheap. Honey! You shouldn’t have! Really!
I made 1 pillow and then proceeded to break the needles and wind the thread up inside. UGH!!!!! If I can’t hot glue gun it You have to buy a new one!
Ashley Sears says
Wanda, You are a girl after my own heart! Until last year I had ONLY ever sewed pillows. I remember one summer when I was with my grandmother and she yelled at me because I had pins in my fabric. Telling me “you’re going to break my needle”, and I remember thinking (whatever Grandma). NO joke, next pass I cracked the needle on a pin. /facepalm. Luckily these sheets helped me enough to learn how to sew pajamas pants for the kids last Christmas! So keep at it (just buy LOTS of needles ;))
Vanessa says
You can sew over quilters pins. They are long, thin pins with a flat hem. They must be inserted perpendicular to the fabric.
Vanessa says
I meant flat head not hem 🙂
Elizabeth says
I found these sheets on Pinterest, and I’m so excited! I’m a future apparel development teacher, and I know that these templates will definitely help in my classroom. Thank you for sharing!
Ashley Sears says
Elizabeth, SO glad that they are going to be helpful. Heck if the can teach me to sew they can teach anyone. I am totally sewing challenged!
HK Newton says
I also found this on Pinterest. I had seen the idea of using lined paper to practice straight stitching but had never thought about paper patterns for circles, etc. So smart and so simple! I’ve been sewing (off and on) for over 50 years and I still have a lot of room for improvement and these will definitely help. 🙂
The main reason I decided to comment was to share an idea to help avoid the broken needle issue. Please note: The following comments are NOT advertising. It’s just another idea you might find helpful. I recently followed another Pinterest link to a Youtube video by award-winning quilter Sharon Shamber. In the video she shows how to use Elmer’s Washable School Glue to “baste” seams WITHOUT pins. She modified the bottle tip to dispense a very fine line of adhesive in the seam allowance. Then, using a warm, dry iron to set the glue, she pressed along the seam holding the iron in place 3–5 seconds each time she put it on a different section. This way there are no pins which means no stuck fingers and no broken needles! Of course, this is for washable fabrics and should be tested on a scrap of the fabric before using on the actual item to be made.
Sorry for the ‘wordiness’. Really enjoying your site!:)
Ashley Sears says
That sounds like a really good idea to baste something without needles! Thanks for sharing the tip. They are always welcome 😉
Janet Nazar says
So do you take the thread out to sew these? Or leave it in?
Ash Sears says
Janet, you leave the thread in. You sew just like you would if it were fabric. 🙂
Lisa1234 says
You can do either. You’ll still get the same experience but you won’t waste thread if you do it without.
Ash Sears says
Great tip Lisa!